diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 4d21c9b..e5aa7fa 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -13,10 +13,11 @@ EMIT_SECRET=
 SMTP_USERNAME=
 SMTP_PASSWORD=
 
-# Email OTP on sign-in. Leave true; only the exact value "false" makes sign-in
-# password only (logged as OTP_BYPASSED, shown on the login page and top bar).
+# Email OTP on sign-in. Off by default; only the exact value "true" turns it on,
+# and that needs working SMTP. While off, sign-in is password only (logged as
+# OTP_BYPASSED, shown on the login page and top bar).
 # Applied to app/config.php by the php container on every start.
-OTP_REQUIRED=true
+OTP_REQUIRED=false
 
 # Port to expose the web app on (default 80)
 HTTP_PORT=80
diff --git a/app/assets/utils/otp_policy.php b/app/assets/utils/otp_policy.php
index 69303b2..b90abc8 100644
--- a/app/assets/utils/otp_policy.php
+++ b/app/assets/utils/otp_policy.php
@@ -3,21 +3,22 @@
 //
 // Email OTP login policy, set by OTP_REQUIRED in config.php.
 //
-// Fails safe: the OTP step is off only when the constant is defined and is
-// exactly the boolean false. A missing constant (any config.php written before
-// this switch existed), 0, 'false' or a typo all keep it on.
+// OFF BY DEFAULT: the OTP step runs only when the constant is defined and is
+// exactly the boolean true. A missing constant (any config.php written before
+// this switch existed), 1, 'true' or a typo all leave it off, so sign-in is
+// password only and no SMTP is needed to log in.
 //
 // While it is off, every sign-in that skips the OTP because of it is logged as
 // OTP_BYPASSED, and the login page and top bar both say so on screen — a
-// weakened sign-in must never be invisible to whoever is using it.
+// password-only sign-in must never be invisible to whoever is using it.
 //
-// Only the login OTP is affected. The staff/viewer and no-SMTP skips in
-// login_otp.php still apply when it is on, and password-reset OTPs
-// (PasswordResetManager) are a separate flow that stays on regardless.
+// Only the login OTP is affected. When it is on, the staff/viewer and no-SMTP
+// skips in login_otp.php still apply; password-reset OTPs (PasswordResetManager)
+// are a separate flow that stays on regardless.
 
 if (!function_exists('otp_required')) {
     function otp_required(): bool {
-        return !(defined('OTP_REQUIRED') && OTP_REQUIRED === false);
+        return defined('OTP_REQUIRED') && OTP_REQUIRED === true;
     }
 }
 
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ if (!function_exists('otp_log_bypass')) {
     // log (the container's Apache log) under a fixed, greppable tag.
     function otp_log_bypass($user_id, string $where): void {
         error_log(sprintf(
-            '[auth] OTP_BYPASSED user_id=%d ip=%s where=%s -- OTP_REQUIRED=false in config.php',
+            '[auth] OTP_BYPASSED user_id=%d ip=%s where=%s -- OTP_REQUIRED is not true in config.php',
             (int)$user_id,
             $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'] ?? '-',
             $where
diff --git a/app/config.example.php b/app/config.example.php
index 5d9d720..0366161 100644
--- a/app/config.example.php
+++ b/app/config.example.php
@@ -39,13 +39,12 @@ if (!defined('NODE_EMIT_SECRET')) {
 }
 
 // ── Login OTP ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-// Email OTP on sign-in. LEAVE THIS TRUE unless password-only sign-in is wanted
-// on purpose (e.g. a demo). It fails safe: anything other than the boolean
-// false — the constant being absent included — keeps the OTP step on. While it
-// is off, every sign-in is logged as OTP_BYPASSED and the login page and top
-// bar both say so. Password-reset OTPs are not affected.
+// Email OTP on sign-in. OFF BY DEFAULT: only the boolean true turns it on —
+// anything else, the constant being absent included, leaves sign-in password
+// only (logged as OTP_BYPASSED, shown on the login page and top bar). Turn it
+// on only with working SMTP. Password-reset OTPs are not affected.
 if (!defined('OTP_REQUIRED')) {
-	define('OTP_REQUIRED', true);
+	define('OTP_REQUIRED', false);
 }
 
 // ── Usage packages ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
diff --git a/app/include_topbar.php b/app/include_topbar.php
index 3f77d7f..9999cd6 100644
--- a/app/include_topbar.php
+++ b/app/include_topbar.php
@@ -199,12 +199,12 @@ $_usage_full   = $_usage_max_pct >= 100;
       </li>
       <?php endif; ?>
 
-      <!-- Email OTP off: a weakened sign-in must never be invisible to whoever is using it -->
+      <!-- Email OTP off (the default): a password-only sign-in must never be invisible to whoever is using it -->
       <?php if (!otp_required()): ?>
       <li class="d-none d-md-block">
         <span class="badge bg-warning text-dark d-flex align-items-center gap-1 px-2 py-1"
               style="font-size:11px; cursor:default;"
-              title="OTP_REQUIRED=false in config.php">
+              title="OTP_REQUIRED is not true in config.php">
           <i class="ti ti-shield-off"></i>
           OTP off
         </span>
diff --git a/app/login/index.php b/app/login/index.php
index f040332..c79b10b 100644
--- a/app/login/index.php
+++ b/app/login/index.php
@@ -34,10 +34,10 @@
 
         <form class="needs-validation mt-3" novalidate id="login-form">
           <?php if (!otp_required()): ?>
-          <!-- OTP_REQUIRED=false in config.php: a weakened sign-in must never be invisible -->
-          <div class="alert alert-warning small py-2 mb-3" title="OTP_REQUIRED=false in config.php">
+          <!-- OTP_REQUIRED is not true in config.php (the default): a password-only sign-in must never be invisible -->
+          <div class="alert alert-warning small py-2 mb-3" title="OTP_REQUIRED is not true in config.php">
             <i class="ti ti-alert-triangle me-1"></i>
-            Email OTP is temporarily disabled — sign-in is password only.
+            Email OTP is off — sign-in is password only.
           </div>
           <?php endif; ?>
           <!-- first step login [OTP] -->
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
 
           <div class="d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center mb-3">
             <!-- "Remember me" is intentionally excluded.
-            This login uses 2FA (OTP via email) on every session, unless OTP_REQUIRED=false in config.php.
+            This login uses 2FA (OTP via email) on every session when OTP_REQUIRED=true in config.php (off by default).
             A persistent login would bypass the OTP step and undermine the security model.
             Do not add this back. -->
           </div>
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 85ed542..4b24178 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ services:
       EMIT_SECRET: ${EMIT_SECRET}
       SMTP_USERNAME: ${SMTP_USERNAME}
       SMTP_PASSWORD: ${SMTP_PASSWORD}
-      OTP_REQUIRED: ${OTP_REQUIRED:-true}
+      OTP_REQUIRED: ${OTP_REQUIRED:-false}
     volumes:
       - .:/var/www/html/wms-app
     ports:
diff --git a/docker/init-env.sh b/docker/init-env.sh
index de6b950..f697a72 100755
--- a/docker/init-env.sh
+++ b/docker/init-env.sh
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ PUBLIC_HOST=$public_host
 EMIT_SECRET=$emit_secret
 SMTP_USERNAME=$smtp_user
 SMTP_PASSWORD=$smtp_pass
-OTP_REQUIRED=true
+OTP_REQUIRED=false
 HTTP_PORT=$http_port
 EOF
 chmod 600 "$ENV_FILE"
diff --git a/docker/php/config.php.template b/docker/php/config.php.template
index ca80301..20da983 100644
--- a/docker/php/config.php.template
+++ b/docker/php/config.php.template
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ if (!defined('NODE_EMIT_SECRET')) {
 
 // ── Login OTP ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 // Set from OTP_REQUIRED in .env and reconciled by the entrypoint on every start.
-// Fails safe: anything other than the boolean false keeps the OTP step on.
+// Off by default: anything other than the boolean true leaves the OTP step off.
 if (!defined('OTP_REQUIRED')) {
 	define('OTP_REQUIRED', ${OTP_REQUIRED});
 }
diff --git a/docker/php/entrypoint.sh b/docker/php/entrypoint.sh
index 8aa3e9f..81a09ed 100644
--- a/docker/php/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/docker/php/entrypoint.sh
@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@ set -e
 APP_DIR=/var/www/html/wms-app
 CONFIG=$APP_DIR/app/config.php
 
-# Email OTP on sign-in. Anything but the exact string "false" means required,
-# so a typo or a missing variable can never switch it off.
-: "${OTP_REQUIRED:=true}"
-[ "$OTP_REQUIRED" = "false" ] || OTP_REQUIRED=true
+# Email OTP on sign-in, OFF BY DEFAULT. Only the exact string "true" turns it
+# on; a missing variable or anything else means false.
+: "${OTP_REQUIRED:=false}"
+[ "$OTP_REQUIRED" = "true" ] || OTP_REQUIRED=false
 export OTP_REQUIRED
 
 # Generate app/config.php from template on first run only.
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ else
 	echo "[entrypoint] added OTP_REQUIRED = ${OTP_REQUIRED} to an existing config.php"
 fi
 if [ "$OTP_REQUIRED" = "false" ]; then
-	echo "[entrypoint] WARNING -- email OTP is OFF; sign-in is password only."
+	echo "[entrypoint] email OTP is off (OTP_REQUIRED=false); sign-in is password only."
 fi
 
 mkdir -p "$APP_DIR/app/uploads"